Tragedies to Triumph: A Collection of Faith Based Short Stories

By Dr. Teresa

A Collection of Faith-Based Short Stories by Dr. Teresa with valuable life lessons learned throughout

each story. Not only does it provide solutions for dealing with demanding situations, but it also

teaches that tragedies are no more than treasures that become life lessons toward bringing the

true essence of faith.

• Language: English
• Publisher: West Point Print and Media LLC
• Release date: Feb 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9781959895480

Book preview

The Camouflage of Delilah

Woman of Color

Dedicated to My Beloved Parents

Essie Mae Moore Rolle

(1927-1970)

Nelson Ernest Rolle

(1923-2000)

Thelma Alexander, an inspiring mother

(1910)

Acknowledgement

To the Holy Spirit, who led and guided me through the entire process. Thank you. To my beloved husband Grady who stood by me through the process… I am grateful you are in my life.

Chapter 1

My life took a turn in 1945 during the summer months. Jobs were scarce for blacks, unless you had a little bit of education. My mama always had a job because I’ve never seen her miss a night of work. We always had food and clothing. Even a small house we were renting. Mama always dreamed of owning her own house. I enjoyed looking at Mama getting ready for work. She usually left around 9 P.M. until day break.

As I looked out of the hot beaming window. I could see the stars in the sky twinkling. Maybe they guided the people who worked at night. Mama said, they are angels watching over us, showing us which way to go in life. I kinda like the ideal of someone looking out for me daily. I could see Mama’s reflection through the glass window. She always pranced around the room looking for her attire, making sure she looked the best for work. Watching Mama fussing to herself was fun. Sometimes she would ask me if she looked okay. Of course, I would say yes.

Mama was the best dressed and looking woman in town to me. I noticed Mama rambling through her dresser drawer looking for her stockings. Mama wore the most beautiful stockings. They had a rose on each leg. She loved roses especially yellow ones. Mama was looking for her stockings. When she would put them on, most of the time I would rub her smooth legs. Mama always wore this shiny locket around her neck. She told me the locket held the secret to her life, and one day I would get to wear it. But for now, all I can do is look at it.

She kept on rambling through the house. Oh, by the way, my name is Delilah and I am six years old. I live with my mama whose name is Candy. That is short for Candace. My daddy left a long time ago. Mama told me when daddy took one look at me, he left. I don’t know why. I guess because I look different from my friend Lettie. My hair is very curly and my skin is so bright. Sometimes I don’t know whether I am white or colored. Mama told me I am just a girl of color.

In order for Mama to work at night, I had to go to Lettie’s house in the evening. I didn’t care because she had lots of toys and stuff. Lettie often told me we were sisters, and everything she had was mine. I felt we had a lifelong friendship by the way we took care of each other all the time.

Suddenly I heard a horn blowing in the front of the house. I looked out the window and saw a very light-skinned man in the car. He kept yelling for Mama to come out of the house.

She said, I’m coming.

She rushed me out of the house and told me to walk directly to Lettie’s house. which was about three houses down. As Mama was getting in the car, I could feel deep inside that she wanted a better life for me. Mama looked directly in my eyes as I walked toward Mrs. Lois’ house (Lettie’s mama). As the car drove off, I could still feel the presence of my mama’s eyes watching me, as if to say, I am watching you always.

Mrs. Lois always stood at the door watching me walk safely to her house. As my mama got into the car, she blew a kiss at me with her ruby red lips. My mama was a pretty lady to me. Her skin was like a peach. I guess that is why so many men liked her. Every time my mama left with a man, I hoped it would be my daddy. No such luck yet! I did notice each car was different every time she went to work. I guess she had to catch a ride every night, since we didn’t have transportation.

As I walked toward Mrs. Lois’ house, I could still smell the fragrance of my mama as she continued to look at me. There was a difference in Mama’s eyes this time. It was as though she was terrified. Maybe she didn’t want to leave me this time. I saw a sparkling stare in her eyes as though she was telling me goodbye, forever. But I knew she would come back because she often told me she would never leave me like my daddy did.

While walking toward Lettie’s house, I thought, one day I’m going to be a good Mama!

The door opened wide and Mrs. Lois and Lettie greeted me at the door. This happened every night, seven days a week. Mama only rested in the mornings. I would play with my dolls or dress up like a movie star, because Mama always told me that I could do anything if I would put my mind to it. I enjoyed being at Lettie’s house. Her room had plenty of toys. Sometimes we would fall asleep with the toys in our hands.

It was getting late. Mrs. Lois put Lettie and me to bed. But before she could say good night, she heard a racket going on outside. I looked out bedroom window. I saw this light-skinned man, almost the color of me shoved my mama out of the car. All I could see was her ruby lips all smeared with blood. Her dress was ripped and had streaks of fresh blood covering it. I looked at Mama’s roses on her stockings, they didn’t even look like roses anymore. I was wondering what was going on. Mrs. Lois ran to the door. All she could do was hug Mama. Mama was crying, but she looked around to see if I was present in the room. She couldn’t see us peeping through the crack of the door. Mrs. Lois went into the bathroom to get a wet towel and antiseptic to clean Mama’s face.

Lettie and I continued to peep through the crack of the door. I started crying because I didn’t want Mama to cry. Lettie took me by the hand and held me tight. She told me don’t cry, but I couldn’t help it. Somebody done hurt my mama. I thought. Mrs. Lois heard us and told us to close the door of the room. I wouldn’t close the door because I wanted to see my mama. I grasped on to the edge of the door trying to hold it so it wouldn’t close completely, but Mrs. Lois came over and grabbed the door and closed it in my face. She yelled at Lettie and me and told us to get to bed.

We still could hear their conversation from the walls of the room because they were so thin. Lettie told me she could sometimes hear her mama and dad in the bedroom making funny noises late at night from the bedroom walls.

Mrs. Lois looked at Mama. She told her she needed to change her lifestyle and focus on raising me to becoming a young lady. Mama told Mrs. Lois she had to disappear for a while. I don’t know why she said that. Mama told Mrs. Lois she was going home to get cleaned up. I figured she’d pick me up in the morning. Mrs. Lois wouldn’t let her walk home by herself, so she told us to keep the door close and she would be right back. I heard the door close and Mama was gone. I told Lettie; things will be better tomorrow because Mama always feels better in the mornings after she has slept for about eight hours. It was a while before Mrs. Lois came back, but I couldn’t go to sleep.

Suddenly I heard Mrs. Lois come back in the house. She was talking to someone on the phone. She was saying that my Mama was no good and that she deserved what happened to her. I couldn’t believe she would say these rude things about my mama. She even discussed my biological daddy with this anonymous person on the phone. I heard her say my real daddy was a white man. That’s why my daddy left. I was so involved with the conversation on the phone I didn’t realize I was falling out of the bed. I made a loud sound as I fell on the floor. Mrs. Lois came to the bedroom door and yelled at us to go to bed. But I was the only one up.

I was going to find out the truth about my daddy. I kept thinking it would be nice to have my real daddy around. I didn’t care what color he was, just as long as he was my daddy. Well, I better go to sleep, I thought because tomorrow I will have to take care of Mama.

But you know what? That was the last time I saw Candy, my mama. I will never forget that night as long as I have breath in my body.

Six years have passed. Mama still hasn’t showed up. Sometimes I look down the street, especially at night, to see if Mama is coming out the house to go to work. I miss her so much. Mrs. Lois used to tell me to stop looking. She always told me is my mama loved me so much, how come she wasn’t here taking care of me? I never knew what happened between the time Mama left Mrs. Lois’ house and the next morning. No one talks about it, and if they do, the conversation changes when I’m present.

There was something very strange about this. Mrs. Lois and her husband decided to raise me, but they wanted to do it the legal way. At the age twelve, the state awarded them custody of me. I didn’t want to be adopted because I knew one day either my mama or real dad would finally show up. But for now, this is my family.

Sometimes I felt Mrs. Lois was happy they didn’t adopt me because she would get excited looking in the mailbox during the first of the month. She wouldn’t let anyone go to the mailbox, especially check time. Sometimes she would fuss with the mailman if it didn’t come on time. Even though the check was for me, I never got to see it. All I saw was new clothes for Lettie, a new refrigerator, and always looking for new hats for her Sunday church showoff in which Mrs. Lois enjoyed being in competition with the women at church. It didn’t bother me because Lettie was now my best friend and my sister. If you want to call it that. Now I got to be with her all the time. It was great having an older sibling (two weeks older). We could chat all the time even in our sleep. I guess you think that is kind of funny.

Getting older can sometimes be confusing. I don’t know whether to be a child or a young lady. Mama used to say getting older means you become wiser. I can’t tell by Mrs. Lois. She spends money as fast as it comes in and then complains when it runs out. One day she had the nerve to look me in the eye and tell me I’m the reason she can’t make ends meet. This woman blames me for everything that goes wrong in the house or at school. She doesn’t know that Lettie is already active with boys. When I say active, I mean real active. She sometimes tells lies about why we are late coming home from school. It isn’t me. It’s Lettie, but guess who gets the blame? Me! INactive, INNocent, ME! I just roll my eyes up in the air and say to myself, Here we go again! Lettie just looks at me with her slick self and smirks. But covering for her is okay because I know she will do the same for me.

Chapter 2

I am now sixteen years old. My body has matured a lot. Mrs. Lois said I look sort of like my mama. Mr. John (Mrs. Lois’ husband) always stares at me, especially when I am asleep. He doesn’t know it, but I see him looking at me through the corners of his eyes all the time. One night I got up to go to the bathroom. Since the bathroom is across from the living room, I would have to pass in front of the television. Mr. John would be looking at me. Sometimes I could feel his creepy eyes looking through my nightgown. It was though he was X-raying me. For my age, my chest was well-developed. I would rush to the bathroom and rush back to my bedroom to keep him from staring at me.

Lettie asked, Why are you always rushing to the bathroom?

I would just tell her I didn’t want the boogie man to get me. Lettie would just laugh and go back to sleep. She knows I am too old to believe in the boogie man. Some nights I can’t sleep because I am worried about Mama.

I can hear through the walls Mr. John and Mrs. Lois discussing a lot of issues. Seems like that is the only time they really communicate. During the day time they hardly ever say two words to each other. One night as I was going to the bathroom, I didn’t see Mr. John in the living room, I felt safe. But low and behold, this man was waiting in the bathroom for me because I saw his shadow against the door. So, I ran in the room and woke Lettie up. I told her I saw someone in the house. I knew it was Mr. John, but I wanted her to go to the bathroom with me and catch her dad. Lettie proceeded toward the bathroom with me. But by that time, Mr. John had disappeared. Phew! That was a close one.

It is six o’clock in the morning and I hear the alarm go off. The alarm is Mrs. Lois’ big mouth telling us to get up and get ready for school. While I was in the bathroom preparing myself for school, I heard the phone ring. I’m always listening when the phone rings because I am hoping it will be my mama calling.

Mrs. Lois answered the phone. It was a social worker. I guess they were checking up on me. All I could hear was what Mrs. Lois was saying.

She said loudly, Just don’t cut my check off! I will come in today and update the papers!

Mrs. Lois yelled toward us, Hurry up! Get to this table and eat breakfast!

When you look at the breakfast food, it doesn’t look like we’re getting extra money at all. She gives us a spoonful of eggs, and it doesn’t seem as though she knows how to cook because the eggs seem brown. Sometimes I feel she cooks them at night and thaws them out in the morning. I often wondered why Mr. John said he would get his breakfast on the way to work.

Mr. John would drop Lettie and me to school almost every day. He told us we are the greediest children he ever seen. I know why because we would have breakfast at home and breakfast with him at the truck stop. we didn’t have time to sit down and eat, so we would eat it in the car.

Mr. John said, Delilah, feed me while I drive.

I fed him because I didn’t think anything was wrong with doing it. Lettie would look at me kind of funny. Sometimes she would get jealous and not speak to me all day.

As we parked in front of Central High School, Mr. John would give us a five-minute lecture on keeping boys’ hands off of us. To me, he needs to practice what he preaches because every time I get out of the car, he pats me like an ironing board in the back.

I feel very uncomfortable when Mr. John touches me. Mrs. Lois told me he does it because he loves me. If that’s love, I probably better tell Mrs. Lois she missing out on love. I don’t see him patting her butt.

Lettie and I walked towards the school building door. Every time we enter the classroom the boys start whistling at me. Some even try to touch me. I get my books and hit them across their heads. Of course, Lettie backs me up by calling them gross names.

Lettie and I are in the same class. Lettie is very smart, but sneaky. She always brings home all A’s on her report card. As for me, if it wasn’t for Lettie I would probable still be in the first grade. My teachers are always telling me how smart my mama was in school. But she dropped out of school to take care of me. That’s when she ran away from home. I never seen my grandparents. Mama married my so-called daddy when she was fifteen years old. I heard Mrs. Lois say my so-called daddy was probably my grandfather. Thank God he wasn’t my real daddy. I probably would have been retarded or something.

Let’s talk about school. I play dumb so I will get all the attention. One day I am going to be just like my Mama. Sleep in the day and work at night. The only thing I would change is that my children would have a real daddy. OOPs, the bell rang. I’m so glad it is time to get out of here.

Lettie and I start walking home from school. It is about two miles from the school yard. We laugh and talk all the way home. Sometimes the older guys would pass by in their cars and insult me by calling me half-breed. But I remember what Mama told me. I’m just a little woman of color. Mama also told me I had an advantage over Lettie. She constantly stressed when white people have job openings sometimes, they won’t hire a colored person. So, I don’t get angry when those guys call me half-breed because I can play both sides of the fence. I must decide which side I want to stay on.

I enjoy walking home because I don’t have to worry about Mr. John touching me. I’m afraid to tell anyone because I thought about how they took me in when my mama disappeared. It’s not easy to go up to a woman who has fed, clothed, and sheltered you, and then tell her that her husband is hitting on you. I know someday I am going to have to reveal it to her before it goes too far.

As we reach the house Mrs. Lois is on the porch mending one of my dresses. She is always mending my clothes. When Lettie needs a new dress, she just goes out and buy it. Sometimes I wonder where my monthly check goes. Most of the time I have to borrow Lettie’s clothes. I am so glad that I have permanent press hair. You know what I mean.

Mrs. Lois asked, How was your day?

As always it was okay, I said.

She sat on the porch and talked with us for about an hour. Mrs. Lois has a meeting at church tonight. This meant we had to stay home with Mr. John because he comes home late sometimes. I think he does this purposely so he wouldn’t have to go to church with her. He’s a bank teller at the local tank. I know he got the job because of his skin color. He is not a dark-skinned man and he is very educated. I guess that is why Lettie is so smart. Mr. John told me to keep thinking smart, I’ll get there.

Later we went inside and helped prepare dinner. While we were preparing dinner, the phone rang. When I heard the phone ring, I knew the latest gossip was coming through. Mrs. Lois answered the phone. She noticed Lettie and me looking at her so she walked over to the bathroom and closed the door. Lettie and I waited until she closed the door, then we put our ears as close as we could to the bathroom door.

We heard Mrs. Lois saying, You don’t say. I told you the state was going to try to find her. They just don’t want to give me that check. Just don’t tell anyone you told me.

Then we heard her hang up the phone. Lettie and I rushed back to the kitchen to set up the table. As she came out of the bathroom, we kept looking at her.

Mrs. Lois had this inquiring look on her face.

Then she said, What are you’ll looking at?

We looked at each other and replied, Nothing!

Mrs. Lois said, Well…finish up. You don’t have time to look at me

Lettie and I looked at each other with a grin on our faces.

While putting the plates on the table, I whispered to Lettie, Maybe they’re looking for my mama.

Sh-sh, said Lettie, let’s talk about this later.

I agreed.

We placed the food on the table then we sat in the living room, which during this time was called a front room. We were quietly waiting for Mr. John to come home from work. Mrs. Lois always timed Mr. John, especially when he was coming home from work. She knew what time he left, and the time he should be arriving home. I think she just thinks somebody wants her husband. If you ask me, she should be glad he comes home at all especially the way she cooks. My mama always told me, The way to a man’s heart is his stomach. That means you got to know how to cook if you want to keep your man from running to another woman’s kitchen.

Mrs. Lois kept looking at the clock hoping Mr. John would get home in time to go to church with her. But we knew better. He is going to come through that door when we are finished eating. That was his normal routine. Mrs. Lois, Lettie, and I sat down at the table to eat.

I asked, Have you heard from my mama?

Lettie looked at me as if to say, Please don’t asked that.

Mrs. Lois replied, Quit asking me that every day! When I find some more information out on your mama’s whereabouts, I will make sure you will the first person to know!

Yeah, right, I said talking through my teeth.

This woman just wanted to keep leaching off of me through the welfare.

Then Lettie said, Delilah, I thought you were happy here?

I am happy, I replied in a low-keyed voice. But I want to see my mama. I haven’t seen her in nine years.

What makes you think she wants to see you? asked Mrs. Lois. Nine years is a long time for a woman not to contact her daughter.

Lettie turned to me with concern in her eyes. Then she said, Don’t worry. Maybe your mama is trying to get a grip on her life before she enters into your life again.

Mrs. Lois made a gesture at Lettie with her eyes, as if to say, I think you are talking a little too much.

Suddenly, Mr. John came through the door, as normal, making excuses for being late. Lettie and I knew better.

Mrs. Lois felt deserted. Mr. John walked toward the bathroom.

Mrs. Lois said softly, I guess you won’t be going to the meeting tonight.

Mr. John ignored her. He went into the bathroom to wash up for dinner.

Then he sat down at the dinner table. Lettie and I looked at each other smirking and touching each other’s feet under the table. We knew better. Mrs. Lois got up from the table because she was running late for her meeting. She went into the bedroom to get her purse.

While walking out of the bedroom, Mrs. Lois went over to Mr. John and whispered in his ear, Honey, I got to go. I’ll see you at church.

We knew better. This was the opportunity for him to have some peace from her. Before Mrs. Lois left, she told us to make sure we cleaned the kitchen up before we went to bed.

I hated being home with Mr. John because he would always think of an errand for Lettie to do in order to get her out of the house. As usual, he sent Lettie outside to look for his wallet in the truck. I knew his wallet wasn’t in the truck, but I just played along with his game.

Something strange happened that night. Mrs. Lois left her sweater on the chair in the bedroom. Meanwhile, Mr. John was looking at me up and down like I was a popsicle stick ready to be eaten. I felt frozen just like a popsicle stick. I hated when he stared at me.

He told me to sit down by him on the sofa. I hesitated because his hands were patting the seat of the sofa as if saying, Come, let me touch and caress your butt.

Suddenly Mrs. Lois opened the door quietly. She was ranting and talking to herself as she closed the front door. I tried to get away from Mr. John, but he had his hand inside my blouse caressing my breast. Mrs. Lois turned around and dropped her Bible and purse.

She looked at me as if I was dirt. She could not even open her mouth to speak. Her lips dropped and her eyes became firey red as though the devil got inside of her. She stood there in astonishment. Mr. John just took his hand away from my chest. He was caught red-handed abusing my body. Mrs. Lois was so furious she took the lamp and threw it at me.

1…I… I can…can, Mr. John tried to explain.

Mrs. Lois shouted, Shut Up! Just Shut Up!

He was trying to get out of being caught. I thought, finally she had him. Would you believe she blamed me for the incident. I ran to the bedroom to escape from this horrible situation, but she just continued to follow me to the room. She knocked me down on the floor. She called me white trash and all sorts of ungodly names. She yelled at me continuously through the house.

Then she shouted, LEAVE MY HOUSE!

She kept repeating with anger in her eyes, LEAVE! MY! HOUSE! LEAVE! MY! HOUSE!

I started thinking maybe she was treating me this way because her check was about to come to an end. I cried on the inside, It’s not my fault! It’s not my fault!

Before I could finish my thoughts, Mrs. Lois took the same lamp and struck me across the head. I fell and reached for my head. My hand was full of blood. I began to think about what happened to my mama. In the mist of all this turmoil, I was trying to tell her this is not my fault.

With a scared squeaky voice I said, Mr. John was coming on to me. I just didn’t know how to tell you.

But I don’t think she wanted to know the truth. Mrs. Lois kept screaming and yelling at me to get out of her so-so-so-house. You know what I mean. She was a cursing woman when she got mad. The church folks should see her now. She told me I was the cause of this. She told me I was just like the women in proverbs, waiting to seduce her husband. I refused to listen to those horrible lies. She didn’t know about the night he seduced me into holdings private spot (you know what I mean) and help him to get a sexual thrill. I thought to myself maybe if she would make more noises in the bedroom at night, she wouldn’t need me to substitute.

While all this action was going on, Lettie was so frightened she just balled up in a corner on the floor shaking. She couldn’t back me up this time.

Mrs. Lois pulled me by my hair and dragged me to the front room. I continued to cry in agony. The blood from my head was dripping in my face like a waterfall

I kept yelling with a trembling voice, It’s not my fault! It’s not my fault!

Mr. John just stood there watching her beating me half to death. He knew it was all his fault, so he felt guilty and came over and pulled Mrs. Lois away from me.

Mrs. Lois then threw me out the door and shouted, You are just like your mother! A harlot! An undercover whore!

I ran as fast as I could. In the midst of my hurt and pain my heart started panting. I stopped in the middle of the road.

I heard Lettie calling out to me, Please don’t leave!

Both of us cried and hugged each other.

Mrs. Lois yelled at Lettie, Leave that whore alone!

Lettie couldn’t turn me a loose. She held me tight. As we held on to each other, we took our pinkie fingers and hooked them together, symbolizing sisters forever.

I told Lettie, You will always be my sister in my heart.

Lettie kept telling me, Please don’t leave. Our fingers began to let go.

I walked toward the railroad tracks refusing to look back. I couldn’t bear the pain in Lettie’s eyes as we departed. I began to think about how my mama had left me with this family, and now I had no one to turn to.

A voice spoke to my heart and said, You are a woman of color. Stand tall and let your color be your guide.

Continuing to walk on, I didn’t know where I was going. Memories of my life flashed before me as though it was a repetitious thing for people to leave me.

It was a dreary night for me. I thought, there is so much drama in my life. I wonder what’s next? I lost my mama, now I lost my best friend. Maybe it’s all because of my color. At my age I didn’t know where I was going, and how to accomplish the desires of my heart with no guidance. I continued to hold my head as the blood kept streaming in my face. I reached under my dress and pulled off my half-slip to wrap it around my head.

Suddenly I passed a church that was standing far off from the railroad tracks. This must be the church Mrs. Lois attended for prayer meetings. I heard the congregation singing songs of Zion. The sweet melody drew me nearer to the building. As I came closer to the harmony of the voices, I saw a man in a white suit standing outside the building.

He gazed at me and said, Go on in.

It was amazing. I was like in a trance. It was like I was hypnotized by this man.

He glowed as white as a snowball, only he was different and unexplainable. Being in this state of mind, I walked in the church. There were eyes staring at me like I was God himself. They saw the blood on my dress and dripping from my head. I heard a woman with a great big hat on, like a fruit basket ready for the market, telling me with her hands to come over and sit by her. She went to get some water out of the bathroom. She dabbed some cold water on the bruises that tattooed my flesh. The congregation continued to sing, then all of a sudden everyone sat down and the minister got up to say some encouraging words to the people. I guess I got there at the end of the service. The minister started talking and while he was exhorting the congregation, he was glancing at me as though it was God himself talking to me.

He shouted to the congregation, God has a purpose for everyone’s life no matter what you are going through. Just remember, God is not finished with you until you have fulfilled his purpose!

As he was talking, I could feel the confirment of those words. He continued.

Life can be rough, and it can be tough. Character is more important than the color of your skin!

I kept squirming in my seat. Those words were really hitting me hard. During this time, I didn’t feel pain coming from the bruises on my head. Maybe God was trying to tell me something. One thing I did learn from Mrs. Lois is hold on to your faith, no matter what your trials maybe. I really didn’t know what real trials were like until I had to do everything on my own, starting now.

I was about to get up and leave because I felt uneasy with this man looking at me so hard. It reminded me of Mr. John. I didn’t want any more trouble in my life. The lady sitting next to me with the fruit hat took my hand. She held on to me as if to say everything is okay. So, I remained calm and began to adhere to what the minister was saying.

I will never forget the words he said.

Color is only a barrier if that is all you can see.

I got to thinking about what Mama said. You are a woman of color and can use both sides of the fence, it is up to you to decide which side of the fence you want to live on.

Now those words were finally making some sense to me. The service over and the minister greeted everyone at the door. While waiting to shake the minister’s hand, the woman with the fruit basket hat looked at me and asked my name.

I told her Delilah. At first, she was astounded. I know why because everybody thinks about Samson and Delilah in the Bible when I introduce myself.

But I told her No, I am not that Delilah I am just a woman of color.

She looked at me and smiled. She appeared to be in her mid-sixties. She asked, Can I drop you home?

I answered, I don’t have a home.

The lady sort of ignored my answer. She probably was one of those saints who don’t ask questions, but tend to the situation.

By the way, she said, my name is Mrs. Lucy. I live not too far from here.

I looked at her and wondered if she had any idea what had happened to me. Mrs. Lucy grabbed me by the hand insinuating that I could spend the night at her house. It was difficult for me to trust anyone at this time. It seemed like I had been a nomad all my life.

To make me feel comfortable with her, Mrs. Lucy said, I live alone. My husband died about a year ago.

I asked, Do you have any children?

She replied, I have one daughter. She left a while ago. I haven’t heard from her since.

As we continued to move forward to shake hands with the minister, I noticed the man in the white suit still standing at the door. He looked at me and nodded his head as if to signal me that it was okay. I turned around to tell Mrs. Lucy about this man in white, but before I could say anything he had disappeared. Finally, we were able to shake the minister’s hand.

The minister turned to Mrs. Lucy and inquired, Who is this young lady? Mrs. Lucy answered, This beautiful young lady is visiting me for a while. In my spirit I felt someone was watching over me. Mrs. Lucy looked at me and smiled. As we walked from the church, I saw Mrs. Lucy head for her car. I thought, this lady must have some money because most colored people either walk to work or catch a ride with their bosses.

Mrs. Lucy shouted, Come on! Hurry up!

I ran toward the car and got in. While we were in the car, we became acquainted with each other. I didn’t tell her about the incident with Mrs. Lois. I wouldn’t dare let anyone know about that. Mrs. Lucy asked me a lot of questions about my mother. I told her I ran away. I don’t think she believed me because I noticed how she twisted her lip a little. Even though I told her I ran away, she continued to converse with me.

She told me about how her husband had died from a heart attack and she hadn’t seen her daughter since she was twenty years old, which was about fifteen years ago. I kind of felt sorry for her. Seemed like she was in worst shape than me.

Mrs. Lucy insisted that I stay the night with her. I decided to stay. Where else could I go? I didn’t know where my daddy or Mama was and my best friend’s mother kicked me out. So, I told her okay. We walked inside the house. She had a very modest but beautiful home. I followed her as she walked toward the bathroom. She opened a bedroom door. This room was her daughter’s room. Her daughter’s room reminded me of Lettie’s room with all those stuffed animals on the bed. Mrs. Lucy went into her medicine cabinet to get some antiseptic and placed some of it on a wet cloth. It bought back memories of the last day I saw my mama. As we sat on the bed in her daughter’s room, she pressed the medicated cloth against the opened wounds on my head and attended to the bruises on my body. She never once asked me what happened. I guess she was waiting for me to come forward. But I didn’t feel like discussing it at the moment.

Mrs. Lucy prepared her daughter’s bedroom for me. It seemed as though she left the room just the way it was the day her daughter disappeared. Maybe I’ll be that daughter for her, just this one night, I thought, because I don’t know what kind of lady this is. She could be some psycho or mass murder. I’m just kidding. This could turn out to be a great relationship between us. We’ll see.

Mrs. Lucy told me she didn’t stay up late unless the Lord talked to her. I hope he isn’t talking to her tonight because I am tired, miserable, and lost my best friend. But I am going to figure out a way to see Lettie. You just wait and see.

My eyes became very tired and heavy as I lay in the bed thinking about how my life was such a puzzle. I began to feel troublesome with tears rolling down my eyes dripping on the pillows. I kept thinking how Mr. John put his hands on me and forced me to touch his private area. Fortunately, he never had sex with me, I think, or did he? Mama told me sex is when two people get on top of each other. Well, he never was on top of me, but the thought of him touching my breast gave me the creeps. I tried to tell Mrs. Lois, but she believed that no good husband of hers. I hope he never tries this on Lettie because if he does, I probably will kill him or something.

I wish people like him got their things chopped off then they would know how it feels to be sexually violated. I hope tomorrow is better. It can’t get any worse. I got on my knees beside the bed and prayed.

I said, Good night, Mama. Good night, Daddy, wherever you are and good night, Lettie and God.

Then I hurried into bed because it was jet dark in that room and I hoped Mrs. Lucy’s daughter ran away and didn’t die in this room. I put the sheets over my head.

Chapter 3

Finally, it was morning, I heard the rooster crowing outside. The aroma of bacon, sausage, and eggs filled the atmosphere of my room. I hurried to get out of bed. I walked toward the kitchen following the smell of the delicious breakfast.

Mrs. Lucy said, Good morning, child, did you sleep well?

Yawning, and holding my mouth, I replied, I slept like a lamb.

I really didn’t know how a lamb slept. It was just a figure of speech. Really, I couldn’t sleep, because the house was not familiar to me like Lettie’s home. But I could get used to it.

I started to help Mrs. Lucy prepare the table. In the midst of preparing the table, she talked with me about school.

Do you go to school around here? she asked.

I said, Yes, but my grades were not too good.

Then she exclaimed, You know education is very important to colored people.

While Mrs. Lucy was talking, I noticed her just eyeing me up and down.

She asked, By the way, what color is your mama?

I was astounded. Why would a stranger ask that kind of a question?

I replied with lots of confidence in my voice, Colored, my mother was black!

Then, she was really getting too personal. She asked, What color is your father?

That’s when I almost let her have it, but I took a deep breath.

I answered, I don’t know. My mama never told me. She just said I was a woman of color and that I could camouflage with any environment.

Mrs. Lucy just laughed and said, Oh, child, you just all mixed up.

But I wasn’t kidding.

As we ate breakfast, Mrs. Lucy asked me all sorts of questions. I wouldn’t tell her about the night my Mama left. I felt it was none of her business. Mrs. Lucy didn’t even try to pry into my business.

That’s what I liked about her. She just was concerned and wanted to help a poor girl out.

Mrs. Lucy asked, Would you like to stay with me for a while? I would love to have the company.

I hesitated for a while. Is this lady nuts or just a saint, I thought. She must be a saint, I whispered silently.

Since I couldn’t go back to Lettie’s house, I finally replied with excitement, Sure. I would love to keep you company!

Mrs. Lucy said amazed, You have to continue to go to school. Also help with the chores around the house and maybe get a part-time job, she thought.

I said, I don’t mind going to school and doing chores around the house but….

No buts! she yelled. The reason I want you to get a job is because it will help you invest in your future.

I thought again, maybe she is trying to help me to get a day job instead of a night job like Mama. I do want to be a good mama someday.

I answered with assurance, Sure, I’ll look for a job.

While we were eating breakfast, Mrs. Lucy picked up the newspaper and put it in my face.

She said, Here! Look for a job! She didn’t waste any time. Looks like she is making sure I don’t leach off of her. She looked like she had money, but was stingy with it. I picked up the paper pretending I was looking for a job.

She kept asking, Did you find something yet?

I said bravely, Nobody is going to hire me because I am colored.

Mrs. Lucy took my hand, looked at the shade of her skin against my skin.

Oh…Oh! Yes! somebody will hire you! shouted Mrs. Lucy.

She kept on talking about how a light-skinned Negro could get a job quicker than a very dark-skinned Negro. The pieces were finally coming together (remembering what Mama told me). It’s worth